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DAWN Microfinance

Launched in 2002 by Save the Children, DAWN serves the semi-urban townships in and around Yangon, Myanmar’s former capital and largest city. Over time, DAWN has established a strong network of more than 30,000 clients across the region.

Key Indicators as of December 2015

Active Borrowers: 53,835

Average Loan: $87

Amount Loaned: $12,887,000

Active Savers: 54,163

Active Portfolio: $4,706,000

Saving Balance: $497,000

Statistics are based on unaudited reports submitted by the institution. All currency listed in U.S. Dollars.

Through DAWN Microfinance, consortium members Accion, Triodos, and FMO have the opportunity to build and expand on Save the Children’s pioneering microfinance work in Myanmar, helping to make it stronger and more effective while also expanding its reach to serve more clients. We hope to establish DAWN as a prime example for the underdeveloped microfinance industry in Myanmar in order to promote the sustainable growth of financial services. Our joint investment in DAWN is one small but significant way that foreign investors are working together with key internal players in order to improve the country’s economic standing.

We plan to add significant value to DAWN's operations by strengthening management and staff through seconding Accion staff to key positions at Dawn, training and coaching; developing a wider range of products and services; strengthening management, HR and IT systems and internal controls; and by prioritizing customer education and protection.

We will measure our success in Myanmar by both assessing DAWN's performance and examining how the work’s “demonstration effect” on the broader microfinance industry will entice other financial inclusion leaders to invest in the country. We also expect that the work will support and help embed client protection, sound governance, financial literacy, and social performance management in the nascent industry. By promoting and encouraging this larger microfinance/financial inclusion ecosystem, Accion, FMO, and Triodos will ultimately help more people in Myanmar secure their economic future.